Cameron, Blair and Brown to appear at Leveson inquiry, reports say

David Cameron will face questions on his links with former News International executives

David Cameron and former prime ministers Gordon Brown and Tony
Blair are all preparing to appear before the Leveson inquiry from the
end of May, according to reports this weekend.

The Mail on Sunday says Cameron
will give evidence in mid-June to the inquiry, which is turning
its attention to the relationship between the press and
politicians. His appearance will reportedly come after Brown and
Blair.

Writing on the Spectator's Coffee House blog,
journalist James Forsyth says: "One ally of [Cameron] predicts
that it will be an 'excruciating experience' for him. The inquiry
is likely to rake over the coals of several incidents that have
caused him political damage."

Other ministers said to have been asked to submit evidence before
the end of this month are deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, culture
secretary Jeremy Hunt, home secretary Theresa May, justice
secretary Ken Clarke, business secretary Vince Cable and education
secretary Michael Gove.

Gove, a former Times journalist,
told parliamentary reporters at a lunch earlier this year that
the wide-ranging inquiry chaired by Lord Justice Leveson could
produce "a cure that is worse than the original disease" and that
there is "a chilling atmosphere towards freedom of expression which
emanates from the debate around Leveson".

Cameron is expected to be asked about the Conservative party
decision to hire former News of the World editor
Andy Coulson as head of communiations, and the prime minister's
links with former News International chief executive
Rebekah Brooks.

Brooks has
been granted core participant status for the third module of
the Leveson inquiry, as have MP Tom Watson and former MP Evan
Harris, who will join politicians Chris Bryant, Simon Hughes, Tessa
Jowell, Denis MacShane, Lord Prescott and Claire Ward, who have
continued status.

A spokesman for the Leveson inquiry said that witnesses are not
confirmed until a week prior to their appearance.